Meredith was upcoming to her end of semester exams and was spending the majority of her spare time studying, she was a worrier when it came to exams. Growing up with Ellis Grey meant she had no time nor excuse to fail any sort of exam and although she was in college and her mother wasn't exactly her mother anymore the pressure didn't uplift. Derek had tried to take her mind away from the stress of her exams but so far he had had no luck, he even tried bringing her favourite foods to her instead of her going out but every time the food was left to go cold and he received a whole 5-6 minutes of her entire attention.
It was also her birthday in two days and she would be turning 20 but Meredith just wished to treat it as any normal day, she hated her birthday, it was always a reminder of the birthdays she went without as a child whilst her friends counted down the months to their birthday parties which Meredith could never even attend, never mind have. She had no idea that a party was planned in celebration of her and that that 'small' party was now not so small, to her she thought her birthday would come and go like it had her entire life and she didn't mind that. Every time she thought about her birthday a small part of her always got upset and no matter how much she refused to admit it to herself she wished that one day she could be one of those girls that looked forward to their day but she couldn't, not with all the downfall that she had experienced with the past 19 years of birthdays.
Flashback: 14 years ago
Today was Meredith's sixth birthday, she knew because of the birthday chart that was hung in her classroom at school. Every time a birthday was upcoming in her class, a weekly countdown begin the week before and today it was her turn. She woke up in her small bed and she waited for a while waiting for her parents to come in with her gifts and hugs for her but it never came and after 30 minutes of waiting Meredith began to get impatient and eager to play with her new toys so she got herself up, slipping on her purple fluffy slippers that sat on the floor next to her bed. The house was quiet as she came out of her bedroom but she couldn't hold her face straight, this was the first year that she could really comprehend and understand what a birthday was and its significance.
"Mommy?" her small voice announced as she saw the back of her parents heads above the sofa.
"What?" Ellis turned around, Thatcher glaring at Meredith also.
Looking around the living room quickly she realised that there was no presents or no balloons, everything was as normal. Had she gotten the day wrong? Maybe today wasn't her birthday? Looking back to her mother, she saw her serious face and confirmed her thoughts, today wasn't her birthday so she changed the direction of her conversation.
"Can I have toast?" she asked quietly trying to mask her disappointment.
"Go make it." Thatcher chipped.
"I- I can't reach the worktop." Meredith stuttered.
"That's because you're stupid Meredith." He snapped at her, Ellis just shaking her head and going back to watching the tv whilst drinking her coffee.
Slowly and carefully Meredith followed her dad into the kitchen being cautious of any sudden movements, Thatcher put a single piece of bread into the toaster and walked back out leaving Meredith stood in the kitchen alone. About 4 minutes later the toast popped out the toaster along with the smell of burning, Meredith stood on her tippy toes to grab it but she dropped it instantly because it was so hot.
"Meredith you are so incapable! How do you expect to be anything when you grow up if you can't even hold a piece of toast!" Ellis shouted as she walked into the kitchen, her raised voice intriguing Thatcher.
"Look at the mess you made! Get a brush and clean it." He grabbed Merediths small wrist.
"It's- it's burnt." she said quietly looking at the toast on the floor.
"Yes well done. It's burnt because you burnt it and now you'll eat it because you're not having anymore."
It was at that point that the smell of whiskey was blew into Merediths face. She waited until her parents left her alone to let out the few tears she had held but she wiped them away quickly and cleaned the crumbs that had broken on the floor before eating her burnt, unbuttered and now cold piece of toast. Afterwards she got herself ready for school and an hour later she was walking into her classroom empty handed. It was typical that children would bring sweets for their class on their birthday.
"Happy birthday Meredith!" Mrs Adams said giving her a hug as soon as she entered the classroom.
There was a balloon attached to Merediths chair and a cupcake on her desk, which Mrs Adams did for all of her students on their birthdays.
"It's not my birthday. I- I got it wrong." Meredith admitted looking at her feet.
"It is your birthday Mer." she smiled.
Meredith looked up at her and shook her head no, Mrs Adams then took her small hand and showed her the private school calendar and also the date of her birthday on her school record.
"That's today Mer, see."
"Oh." Meredith frowned, "but I didn't get no presents or a happy birthday song."
Mrs Adams looked at her and the shock & sadness on her face was enough to make Meredith realise what had happened and cry. Her parents had forgotten about her birthday.
Flashback: 10 years ago
Meredith was now 10 and her mother had never made a single effort for her birthday. She hadn't seen her father since the day they left so her birthday was always the same, a normal day. When she woke up Ellis was gone for work already although today she had acknowledged what day it was and it made Meredith smile, even if it was only for a split second - she had left a note: "hbd, use this as lunch money". At least she remembered Meredith shrugged before leaving for school. It was late November and the weather was cold but she still had to walk to school, it took her longer than normal due to a tree that had fell and all routes had to be diverted but an exception was made for students who were effected by it.
Her friend Josie had made her a friendship bracelet for her birthday and she made herself a matching one in alternating colours, she also gave her a small balloon that was attached to a plastic stick. It was the most fun her birthday had ever been. When she got home from school her mom was still not there so she had a strawberry yoghurt from the fridge and went to go upstairs to do her homework but the phone rang before she made it to the top step, she ran back down the stairs and answered it.
"Hello?"
"This will be your most memorable birthday yet Meredith."
"Who is this?" she asked. putting her yoghurt onto the desk in the hallway.
"It hasn't been that long, or are you just as stupid as you was when you were 6."
Meredith realised it was her dad on the phone and she quickly ended it and ran up the stairs. The phone continued to ring non stop all night, she eventually ran downstairs and turned it off completely and she cried herself to sleep alone. The next day her cheek was bruised after Ellis missed phone calls due to it being switched off. Her dad was right, this birthday would be memorable, but not for the reasons a birthday should be.
End of flashbacks:
"Earth to Mer?" a hand waved in front of her face.
She didn't even realise but Derek was sat on her bed infant of her and for the first time in a week she was really grateful he was there. She leaned forward into him and hugged him tightly.
"Hi." she sighed deeply.
"You okay? Where was you?" he stroked the top of her head.
"I- Nowhere, I was nowhere." she hesitated, "but I'm glad you're here."
He smiled at her, "are you up for getting some fresh air and maybe some food? Anything you want." his head tilted and Meredith grinned.
"You so have to stop doing that." she hit his shoulder
"Doing what?" he smiled widely.
"The head tilt, being all dreamy to get your own way." she giggled.
"Its not my fault that you find me irresistible" he joked.
"You wish. You're the one at my bedside everyday." she teased back.
"You're so right. Now go get dressed." he pushed her from her space in her bed.
They went to a sandwich shop where Meredith got a chicken sandwich with avocado, pesto & tomato and Derek got the same but with turkey, they ate on a bench and enjoyed the day together.